Thank you to everyone who has ever faved and watched me! This is a twice a week feature (Tues/Sat) I wish to try to keep up with. I always want to thank people for their support of me, but I know not everyone likes to have a "thank you" on their page with no meat or real interaction. Sometimes it feels like just a copy and pasted answer. Sometimes it really IS just a copy and pasted answer.

Well, my thank you is going to be different now. I want you to know I appreciate that you like my work enough to consider it a favorite, or that you like my work enough to want to watch me. So I'm going to be featuring the art of those who fave and watch me from now on (unless it becomes overwhelming).

I don't always fave or watch people back because I believe in only faving or watching those that genuinely inspire me or I feel like I've developed a connection with them in some way over time. Since I don't always fave or watch back, I hope this feature will give each person a chance to potentially receive interactions with other deviants through me.

I only have one thing that I ask. Please don't watch or fave me just to get on this feature. I only want you to fave my work and watch me only if you genuinely like what I do. Thank you.

- ~CopperCoin1228


- ~Monkey-Cake


- =Xite91


- ~Lil-Dark-Vixen


- *omnipotentmiku

A Friend In NeedYou exhale so that
I will always remember
that this too shall pass. 'The Governor's Nocturnal thoughts'
Under a clear midsummer night sky,

One's spirit remains clear, quietly acute.

As the cicadas replay eternal concertos

In the patches of magnolias and hydrangeas,

Thereby I wonder, cup in my hand filled with

The potent, flagrant spirit of rice Baijiu,

Quietly pondering on the chaotic winds of fate;

“Are we like leaves caught in the winds?

Are we set to be, O ye Gods of Heaven,

Yielded to destiny, witnessing the end of the world

And then the beginning of a whole new world?

Let us drink to fate, brothers and sisters,

In hope that it is turning in the end all right,

So that we all still have a place here.

Nothing new on the computer repair front. My husband started moving my hard drive to his computer case, but he ran out of time and won't be able to finish until maybe this evening. This royally sucks, but I do thank you all for being patient during this process.

While I did not physically participate in this marvelous obstacle course, I did take pictures of my husband ( ~lordpenguinman ) taking it on with some friends this past weekend. It was a great deal of fun. As far as I'm aware there was only one injury during the event. A girl broke her leg after jumping instead of sliding into a deep mud pit.

I don't have the photos that I took available yet, but here is a photo that a friend of ours took of my husband finishing up the last obstacle of the marathon:



I'm so proud of him. I didn't run the course this year, but I plan to definitely take it on next year. Fun times will be had!

While I didn't do the Zombie Mud Run, though, I do intend to participate in Warrior Dash coming up in June! If you live near Charlotte, NC and want to participate, you can see the details on their website here: [link]

It's 3.08 miles of mud, trenches, and various other obstacles. I'm so exited. I think the reason I love obstacle courses so much is because they make me feel like a kid again, and that is incredibly invigorating.

I've already started my own personal training for the Warrior Dash, but my husband and I have been invited to join a Saturday training group with some friends. I am totally thrilled to be getting involved with a team. It makes these kind of events so much more fun and easier to get through because you get the assistance you need through teamwork. I'm too short to climb some of these walls, so I'm going to need a boost. LOL

But yeah, great things happening in my life right now.

So, I've started the Zombies, Run! 2 app on my android for my runs. I tried it out this morning and... that was the most fun I've had running in years. LOL

It actually has a story that interacts with you while you're running/jogging. Zombies chased me at intervals in the first run, so I had time to stop bolting and do a quick walk/jog to get my energy back. While you're running it gives you missions and stuff and you pick up items for your base. When you're done running, you can use what you've earned to customize your base of operations.

This is just what I needed to make exercise times less boring. Gaaaaames~ ♥

If you need some fun added to your workout and don't mind being chased by zombies in your mind, then I highly recommend this marvelous application.

And that's all from me for today. Be sure to check out the updates below, and I hope you have a great one!

--Venus

SD Contest 17: Cassidy - 8 Weeks Left! - There are 8 weeks left in this contest that I'm hosting! I'd love to see more entries from you guys. We currently only have 6 entries.

Forum: Show Me Your Newest - Go to this forum entry and show me your five newest deviations! I'd like to check them out! I don't always comment, but I do look at everything. Faves given to the pieces I love.

OC Challenge 18: Gods and Goddesses - 3 Weeks Left! - There are three weeks left! If you'd like to donate prizes, please let me know! You don't have to be a group member to donate.

Contest Listing - Four new contests have been added! Fill out the form on the journal and send me a note if you wish to have your contest included!

Commission Listing - Two new deviant s open for commissions have been added! Fill out the form on the journal and send me a note if you wish to have your commissions included!

According to my husband, whose judgement I trust completely, the problem with my desktop computer seems to be either the memory or the mother board. Right now he's reviewing the dump files, but if he doesn't learn anything definitive from them, he's going to hook my hard drive into his desktop computer that way I can get back to work and have a proper computer to use.  I'm crossing my fingers that he'll just be able to fix mine, though. I know he likes to play Awesomenauts in the evenings with his co-workers and other guy buddies, and I don't wish to take that away from him. We'll see what happens, though. It's been a month now since these issues started. I'm ready for them to be done.

He's currently at work, and afterwards he's checking out a motorcycle he wants to buy. We also have a friend coming to spend the weekend with us, and my husband has the Zombie Run tomorrow morning which I will be photographing for him. It'll probably be Saturday evening or sometime Sunday  before he can sit down and work on anything for a long period of time.

I continue to thank you all for being patient while we wait for this fiasco to end.

I only have two since my husband hasn't really uploaded much yet, but here is a shot from the Aquarium Trip and the Color Mania 5k we recently did.



This is what happens when people take me to the aquarium.



My family and I after Color Mania - I'm the one on the right making the peace sign. My husband (~lordpenguinman) is in the middle, and his sister (~BlueAnime101) on the left.

My face has so much colored flour on it I look like I have a disease. Someone got me with purple and green right in the face before we started the run, and it was spotted and got caught in my ears. Cleaned powdered out of my ear for a week afterwards.

Anyway, hope you enjoyed the photos. I hope to have some more to show your from hubby's account soon.

--Venus

Sanguem Deus: Character List - a list of all my characters from my comic Sanguem Deus.

Donate Points - Get A Feature - All points go toward helping those in need, free point give-a-ways, and setting up prizes for my contests.

Kiriban - 355,000 - Catch it and win a chibi from me with a simple background!

Thank You Art Feature #001 - A new twice a week feature that thanks you for supporting me!

OC Challenge 18: Gods and Goddesses - New Prizes! - The new challenge is up and we now have some new prizes! If you'd like to donate, please let me know! You don't have to be a group member to donate.

Contest Listing - One new contest has been added! Fill out the form on the journal and send me a note if you wish to have your contest included!

Commission Listing - One new deviant open for commissions has been added! Fill out the form on the journal and send me a note if you wish to have your commissions included!

Thank you to everyone who has ever faved and watched me! This is going to be a twice a week feature (Tues/Sat) I wish to try to keep up with. I always want to thank people for their support of me, but I know not everyone likes to have a "thank you" on their page with no meat or real interaction. Sometimes it feels like just a copy and pasted answer. Sometimes it really IS just a copy and pasted answer.

Well, my thank you is going to be different now. I want you to know I appreciate that you like my work enough to consider it a favorite, or that you like my work enough to want to watch me. So I'm going to be featuring the art of those who fave and watch me from now on (unless it becomes overwhelming).

I don't always fave or watch people back because I believe in only faving or watching those that genuinely inspire me or I feel like I've developed a connection with them in some way over time. Since I don't always fave or watch back, I hope this feature will give each person a chance to potentially receive interactions with other deviants through me.

I only have one thing that I ask. Please don't watch or fave me just to get on this feature. I only want you to fave my work and watch me only if you genuinely like what I do. Thank you.

- ~Eladamri


- ~silverflower6
The Watch Chapter 1... WHAT?It all started when I was cleaning a classroom, in the highschool. I was putting a huge pile of books away, when all of a sudden, I triped and fell, making all the books fall on my head "DANG IT! OWWWWW!" I yelled rubbing my head and starting to pick up the books. "why does this always happen to me?, I mean really, ever freakin ti-" I said before finding an old, broken, 1800s pocket watch, just laying there on the floor. "a pocket watch?" I said clearly confused.

The watch had a strange inscription on the back that read... I can take you back in time, but I only have so much time in me, use me well...

I just laught, untill a new student c The Watch Chapter 2: Confused"Do I really have to repeat myself?" he asks.

"Well lets see, you say that this watch can time travel and then you say that your from 1845, is that right?" I asked.

"Ya pretty much."

"It makes no sense!"

He sighs "Fine, you want more proof? Your name is Isabella Smith, is that right?" he asks smirking.

"h-how do u know my name? I-I don't even know u!" I stuttered freaking out now.

My name is Christopher Smith, your great great grandfather." He says still smirking.

"You're my WHAT!?"

He laughs "Not only do you look like Katharine, but you act like her too!" Chris says laughing.

"Who the heck is Katharine!?" I asked really freaked out. The Watch Chapter 3: The NextThe whole night I was frozen. I never came down for dinner, and I stayed in my room for the whole night.

The next day, I went to school, like always, but apparently I looked very depressed.

"What's wrong?" my best friend, Nara asks. Nara is always happy. She would wear a dress everyday and would always hyperventilate when seeing a hot guy in the hallway; I just roll my eyes.

Nara had blonde curled hair that went down to her mid-back. Her face was always perfect, with the make-up on just right.

"I'm fine, Nara" I said with a sigh.

"You sure? You seem depressed." Nara says looking at me now.

"Confused is more like it." I said

"Oh, oka The Watch Chapter 4: 20 Minute So there I was, sitting in Chris's arms. My arm was dislocated and I was crying, clearly in pain.

"Hold still, this might hurt a little." He says before locating my arm back to how it was. I screamed and cried louder in complete pain. I felt like my body was being pulled a part, limb by limb. It was so painful.

"I'm so sorry, I should've been there earlier, before you got hurt." He says

All these emotions were going through my head. I was scared, relieved, sad, angry, confused, and the list could go on. I started to shake in fear. "W-what h-happened?" I stuttered terrified.

He sighs and takes off his jacket and puts it on me. "Well first The Watch Chapter 5: My future?About a month went by, and Chris was acting very strange around me, lately and every time we saw each other, he would have that stupid smirk on his face that wanted me to smack him. By this time I now had a crush. Go ahead ask it "Izzy, having a crush?! Unheard of!" well its true, and it's not a dumb football player either, it's on my friend Zack. Zack and I have been friends since forever, but since I became a senior in high school, I kind of wanted to be more then friends; but of course, I don't think anyway, that he doesn't feel the same.

I was laying on my bed, my legs crossed, and my hair a mess. It was midnight and I was still doing my

- *Fullmetal-Outcast


- ~Dragonofmusic101


- *Eleqant

:thumb344068680:
A Day Without You                  Me Without You

  What would a day be like for me without you,
Well first of all I never want to know,Cause I don't
think I could stand it..cause without you there
would be no reason to love,or hope,
 The day would be gray,the sky heavily over cast,
it would rain with a gentle steady patter,My mood
would be all the awful shades of gray,hopeless gray.
 Nothing would go right,there would be no reason to try
and I would want nothing more than to die,,
 The wind would blow a mornful tune,like someone
had died. And the rain would fall like it never wanted to stop.
Oh!!!! how could I go on,my heart would be a lifele

Here is the next kiriban! The prize this time? YOU WIN A ONE CHARACTER, CHIBI WITH SIMPLE BACKGROUND, COLORED PICTURE!



All you have to do is Catch My 355,000th pageview!

You have to have been watching my account for at least a month.
First Come, First Serve
You must screen capture the pageview, upload the image, and send me the link VIA NOTE. If you send via a comment on my journal or profile or anywhere else, it will not count.
No cheating or I'll eat your soul
If no one catches it on the dot, I will give the art prize to the person who got the closest!

GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!

Everyone who donates (yes, even if you donated for one of my lists or a giveaway) will be featured. For every 10 points you donate, I will feature one deviation of yours. 10 deviations is the max for the feature, though. I don't want to flood people.

All points go toward helping those in need, free point give-a-ways, and setting up prizes for my contests.

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HAS DONATED SO FAR!

Donate via the "Give Points" option under the "Give" button in the upper right corner of my profile: [link]

NOTE: You will be included in the next feature. Not this one.

- *MEGAN-Yrrbby


- *Medoriko
Into the NightYou take burning stars
out of the palm of my hand,
and send them back home. Season of ChangeCrushing autumn leaves
under tender fingertips;
I reach for new life. In the EndThe air smelled of pine sol and acute discomfort.
A pine box sits up secured on its throne.
Polished from top to bottom; a faux glow.
Every corner covered in lemon freshness and
family gossip spoken in hushed tones.
Who's who.
Inheritance and old money.
Eager palms outstretched for whatever
leftovers they could grasp.
Reaching for what they think they deserve.

Smothered by overpriced bouquets and
tissue pieces to dab away the sentiment
that was never even felt.
All to impress someone only meant
to be buried.
All to do right by someone who would
never even see.

Hey guys,

Just giving you another update. I'm still having rather severe computer issues. My husband (who works on computers for a living) believes it's my motherboard, but later today he's going to be making some adjustments that should help me access my programs / art files and be able to get some work done until he can take the computer apart again. Cross your fingers! I'm not happy that you guys are having to wait so long when I planned to already have all this work completed by now. >_<

My arm is also much better now. Took it three days to fully recover, but I came out of it and that's what matters. I'm pretty sure it was just a pulled muscle, so I took some pain meds and rested.

So the only thing we're waiting on now is for my personal computer to get back up and running.

And that's all for now. I just wanted to let you all know what's going on. Be sure to check out the art below, and have a lovely day.

--Venus

- ~lordpenguinman



- ~Dragon-Bat

Hey guys,

So my computer crashed horribly ONCE AGAIN. Yeah, I'm going nuts, except it's working now because a friend of my husband and I came over, took it apart, and made a few changes. He's a higher level of IT than my husband, so we went to him immediately. We think the issues may be resolved, but my computer is still being observed. More crashes may be in my near future, though, I hope not because this has really slowed me down with my artwork.

Sorry that I don't have a comic page finished. I did start on cleaning the one for this week but the computer issues halted the production. Maybe over the weekend it will appear.

In other news I'm trying to rest because I've some how managed to injure my dominant arm, shoulder, and shoulder blade. I can't really bend, roll over, or raise my arm without a lot of pain. I've felt like an invalid all day and have needed help with everything from picking stuff up to opening cabinets and getting out of the car. I can't even roll over in bed without wanting to scream. ARGH, I don't like it, especially since I don't particularly care for depending on others (I'm better than I used to be in that department).

My husband has had me bed ridden for the rest of the day because we're going to the zoo tomorrow. I can walk around just fine, but I still don't want to have arm and shoulder pain in my dominant arm tomorrow. Oh well, I'll deal and pop some pills.

And now I'm going to try to catch some zzzz so have a good night folks, and be sure to check out the art below. Give my loved ones lots of love and attention. <3

--Venus

- ~lordpenguinman



- ~Dragon-Bat

I am OPEN for suggestions of artwork and deviants to feature! I cannot guarantee everyone will be featured, but please feel free to send me suggestions via note with examples of the deviation or deviant's work and why you think they should be featured!

Thanks, and I hope you enjoy all the artsy goodies below.

--Venus

Featured From This Poll: [link]

The Watch Chapter 1... WHAT?It all started when I was cleaning a classroom, in the highschool. I was putting a huge pile of books away, when all of a sudden, I triped and fell, making all the books fall on my head "DANG IT! OWWWWW!" I yelled rubbing my head and starting to pick up the books. "why does this always happen to me?, I mean really, ever freakin ti-" I said before finding an old, broken, 1800s pocket watch, just laying there on the floor. "a pocket watch?" I said clearly confused.

The watch had a strange inscription on the back that read... I can take you back in time, but I only have so much time in me, use me well...

I just laught, untill a new student c

- ~The--Kyza

You don't seem to notice (my scars)-i-
Years Ago
He and I were eleven when we met, the first day of the sixth grade. No particular moment served as the spark to ignite our friendship.  As children do, we started talking as if we were already good friends, and were inseparable from the start.

There were rumours, but we didn't understand half of the words the other kids had picked up from R-rated movies, and neither did they. We were called King and Queen by a crowd of boisterous first-graders who followed us around at recess.  He joined the choir and the school play just because I did. It didn't take long before we weren't allowed to sit near each other on the school bus becau

Everyone who donates (yes, even if you donated for one of my lists or a giveaway) will be featured. For every 10 points you donate, I will feature one deviation of yours. 10 deviations is the max for the feature, though. I don't want to flood people.

All points go toward helping those in need, free point give-a-ways, and setting up prizes for my contests.

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HAS DONATED SO FAR!

Donate via the "Give Points" option under the "Give" button in the upper right corner of my profile: [link]

NOTE: You will be included in the next feature. Not this one.

- *Kaweki

I am more than willing to offer a journal feature. If you are currently running a contest or have one about to start and would like for me to provide journal features as prizes, please send me a note or comment and I will reply to you as soon as I can.

This offer does not extend to already completed contests.

Congrats to the winners of the following contest!

HOSTED BY:
OFFICIAL CONTEST WINNER JOURNAL: [link]


FIRST PLACE

by

Be sure to check out more of her gallery here:




SECOND PLACE

by

Be sure to check out more of her gallery here:




HONORABLE MENTIONS

Hey guys,

I'm back once more and it would seem that my computer is fixed now. At least it hasn't been going insane on me since my husband made some alterations and that's always a plus. Other than that I should hopefully have some art up soon since I'm working really hard on commissions, but how quickly those come up depend on how quickly the people I'm drawing for respond back.

If you're waiting on a commission and haven't told me yet, please let me know if you are wanting to see WiPs or not. I know two of you definitely want to see WiPs and `AwsumZ said he didn't need to see them. So I just need confirmation from `mirz-alt and ~Neko-daewen. If you don't respond I'm going to assume you DO want to see them. Keep in mind while me showing you WiPs does ensure the image looks exactly as you wish for it to, skipping out on the WiPs increases how quickly the piece will be completed significantly. Ultimately it is up to you, though.

Thanks in advance! And now I'm off to finish cleaning house and then work on more artwork.

Have a blessed day,

--Venus

Hey guys! Please check out this group run by my brother . It's a small group at the moment, but I believe it could really turn into something awesome if enough people join, advertise, and help out. He and I both would greatly appreciate it.

- #ComicsofHorror

This group has been created to Help Horror Comic Artist (Serious or Aspiring) reach a wider audience on DA.

Anyone is welcome to watch the group!

Each artist member will have two galleries per horror comic/graphic novel, one for their graphic novel and one for other art related to their story (IE. sketches, designs etc.) over which they will be given complete control.

Artists are able to have more than one comic gallery.

Featured gallery is only for special Art such as Covers, Drawings, Paintings etc. that artists wish to showcase!

If artist members have news regarding their GN's (Graphic Novels) getting publication etc. they can send me (~Dragon-Bat) the message, and I'll post it here in the blog to help them spread the word.

As members join, their galleries and permissions for their galleries will be set up and titled appropriately for them.

Some aspects of the group may change to better accommodate the artists as time goes on. Feedback from you, my friends, is always greatly appreciated!

Please send all feedback to

Thanks for checking it out!

- ~lordpenguinman



- ~Dragon-Bat

I am more than willing to offer a journal feature. If you are currently running a contest or have one about to start and would like for me to provide journal features as prizes, please send me a note or comment and I will reply to you as soon as I can.

This offer does not extend to already completed contests.

Congrats to the winners of the following contest!

HOSTED BY:
OFFICIAL CONTEST WINNER JOURNAL: [link]


FIRST PLACE

- =TheignoredOne






SECOND PLACE

- =AlkseeyaKC






THIRD PLACE

- ~DetectiveAnonymous






HONORABLE MENTION

- ~alice723

I am more than willing to offer a journal feature. If you are currently running a contest or have one about to start and would like for me to provide journal features as prizes, please send me a note or comment and I will reply to you as soon as I can.

This offer does not extend to already completed contests.

Congrats to the winners of the following contest!

HOSTED BY:
OFFICIAL CONTEST WINNER JOURNAL: [link]


FIRST PLACE

- *Evangeline73






SECOND PLACE

- *llllawliet






THIRD PLACE

- *SarahBillyBoy

- Well, my name is Jose Manuel Martinez, Mexican, graduated with a major in logistics on 2010 and if everything goes well, with a master in marketing at the end of this year. I currently work on a freight transport carrier in customer service as a day job and to have some savings that could be useful later on.

As of things I enjoy besides drawing (more on that later), I like to watch not very well known anime series, read about the latest gadget news, get a good laugh from some Internet memes, learn about new cultures, flavors and places to visit (especially Western European and Japanese), and simply enjoy some of the simple things of life when possible.

Up to now, one of my biggest life changing experiences was three years ago, during a student exchange that allowed me to visit Europe for the first time ever, particularly northern France. Besides the usual new culture, way of life and European touring most people do while there, it allowed me to get a small glimpse on the amazing world of French comics, or BDs as they're known locally, which have a huge tradition, almost as big as American comics and Japanese manga, and get to know a couple of rare stories that are hardly known outside France. One of those stories actually became a source of inspiration in case I decide to venture further and make stories with the Friendsies.

It also allowed me to set better aspirations about the kind of life style I'd like to have, such as walking and taking public transport within an city instead of driving, and taking the train for longer trips, things that aren't easy to emulate in Mexico given the car-centric expectations and cities built around it.  Finally, it was an exciting opportunity to meet some of the greatest people I've known so far, some of whom I still keep in touch to this date, especially someone who has a very special place on me and whom I'd like to meet again soon. Therefore, it was an experience I still miss a lot and that I look forward to repeat one day!

- I've been on deviantART since January 2005, when I stumbled across the site by chance while looking for some reference pictures and wallpapers, then decided to give the site a chance and join. But it was not until one year later when I actively started posting my very first digital drawings, which already featured the yet unnamed Friendsies, and haven't stopped since.

deviantART has practically been part of my life ever since my junior year of high school, then onwards to college, and now as a graduate student, and I hope it continues to be that way onto the forseeable future despite how hard it has been to be known around the site, and believe me it still is!

As of how I've found the whole dA experience, I can say I'm glad it has been a great medium to showcase my drawings to the world, even though their penetration hasn't been as high as I might have wanted. But that's OK, since I know the people who has been loyal to me is because they truly love what I do and besides, my schedule doesn't allow me to commit a huge amount of daily time to the site in addition to the drawings themselves.

- Digital art, particularly the flat color and cel shading technique, using Photoshop's vector tools and custom brushes to achieve most of my effects.

Some day I'd like to transition to make my drawings by tablet, like an iPad for example, but even though it has seen very good advances during all this time in the market, I believe it still doesn't offer any good tools to make it a perfect replacement for my current Photoshop method. This is because I use very heavy use of the tools I mentioned before that haven't been replicated in most of the currently available drawing apps. Your suggestions are welcome if you've tried some of them!

My main source of inspiration for the Friendsies, is a mixture of manga for some elements of my style, and pictures of children for fashion and the situations that come out on each drawing. Of course, for the latter I don't tend to follow neither what's hot right now nor everything you might expect to see a girl to wear. I only take what I enjoy the most and from there, decide what kind of clothes go with each particular girl to define their personal styles, while at the same time their actual traits and interests might differ from their looks.

- Currently, my schedule only allows me to keep drawing as a hobby, because I also have a day job, masters degree studies, as well as some social and family life, all of them completely unrelated to my art. So to fit with this tight schedule, I usually aspire to finish and publish one drawing a week, and do my best to make each of them tell a small story related to the girls on it. If you look carefully you'll notice it has been like this for a while. And believe me, sometimes it's truly a miracle that I still manage to find time to draw without neglecting anything else, sleeping included!

But for some time, I've always wanted to make some short stories with the Friendsies, so that you guys can get to know them even better. These stories would be centered on their daily life out of school, whether at home, close to it or even further afield as they learn every time more about each other while at the esame time do their best to be themselves and fight the usual expectations of how they, as girls, should look like, feel or behave.

If things go better, and especially after graduating from my MBA, I hope to be able to move away from my current job-centric lifestyle and start a drawing career while at the same time working on the stories I mentioned before. To be honest, even if my day job is well paid, related to my college studies, and with more future possibilities thanks to this upcoming MBA, I feel that my art is what truly identifies me the most as a person, and the first thing I'd love others to ask me about before anything else.

- Easy and simple: never, ever give up your dreams! Always do your best and fight for them; don't just give up because you believe it's impossible or even worse, because it's not what others wanted or expected from you. Give yourself a chance to discover if what you're pursuing works for you and only until then are you to decide whether to continue or to find something new if it's not what you wanted. It's never too late to get started into something you love and get known for it. You can apply this to every aspect of your life: studies, career, friends, family, love, you mention it.

Just look at my example: I graduated twice from one of Mexico's best colleges (three times when done with my MBA) and have a related job, and everyone from my parents to my extended family to my friends are happy with it. But despite that, what I really want to do is to give life to the Friendsies, so that more people get to know and learn from them, and thereafter think of and start new projects in order to keep this career prospect and skills alive.

About the student exchange experience I mentioned before, if you ever have the choice to take this opportunity while in college or later on, don't miss it! Yes, it might be expensive, you will leave your familiy and friends behind for a while, there will be a huge shock phase during your last weeks before leaving and first ones after arriving when you literally want to give up, among other fears and oddities. But everything you learn from it will give you a new perspective in life, and if you're for it this could change your live forever for the good. Just ask a girl who also went with me: she met the love of her life while there, returned home to graduate together with me, then went back to live with her boyfriend, and now after two years of living together, they just got married.

To you, `TouchedVenus, thank you very much for this very unique opportunity I didn't expect to have this soon. This is the first time someone invites me to openly talk about my art without judging or moving on to a more "what you should be doing" tone, as some people outside dA have unfortunately done before; they believe there won't be any future out of this but sooner or later it will be time to prove them wrong.

Finally, I wish you all to enjoy everything what the Friendsies has offered and will continue to do so, that you give them a special place in your heart so you can learn more about how the see life, and that you're able to follow and live to your dreams to be truly self-fulfilled as a person. Feel free to ask more if interested, whether about myself or the girls, I'm glad to hear when someone is genuinely interested on us!

I'm going to be off deviantART until Monday.

I may idle off and on my Facebook or Tumblr.

Between spring allergies making sick and ill-tempered plus my computer has crashed to the point my husband has to take it apart yet again, I'm going to have to step away from the computer once more. Without my personal computer I can't work on artwork because that's where all my files and programs are, and I'm extremely irritable from a variety of different reasons.

I'll probably be back in about a day or day in a half, but I didn't want anyone to think I had forgotten about them.

--Venus

The random number generated via random.org is 17! So the winner is ! Congrats!

Thanks for participating!

IMPORTANT: This is the last raffle I will be doing for a while, so this is your last chance to win. I have to hold off on these for a while until I can get caught up on things. Winner will be announced tomorrow.

So here is how this is going to work. You advertise one or more of the following items below for me.

For each one you advertise I will put your name in the raffle pot. At the end of this month, I will draw a number randomly.

The person who's number I draw will be given a 20 art feature and a mini interview! Now, I have over 2100 watchers, so I like to think that's a good chance of views for you. Also if you have a project, commissions, and/or a contest that you need featured, these items will be featured then as well.

Oh, and you'll get a free single character, no background chibi like one of these of one character of your choice:



Here are the items you can feature for me to have your name added to the pot:

SD Contest 17: Cassidy - 7 Weeks LeftContest Introduction
Greetings! It's time for the 17th Sanguem Deus Contest! I allowed you all to choose the character and theme for this contest, so I hope to see lots of amazing entries. So get those gears going and show me what you've got! There are lots of awesome prizes, so don't miss out.
WHAT IS SANGUEM DEUS?: Sanguem Deus is a comic project that I am working on with my husband. The world and all characters within belong to us and we wish to share their story with you! Keep an eye out and watch the group below if you wish to follow the story.
:iconsanguem-deus:
SD Contest 17: Cassidy - Theme and Character Info
CONTEST THEME: Draw the character Cassidy in any situation of your choosing

A mischievous mercenary commonly known as The Raven, Cassidy works under the mentoring of the well known Jantesian warrior Boaz Manton. His peers are the protagonist of the story Sapphirine and the merc - My Contest
April Chibi and Feature Raffle! - WINNERRAFFLE WINNER
The random number generated via random.org is 17! So the winner is :iconphoenixrisingfromash:! Congrats!
Thanks for participating!
April Feature Raffle!
IMPORTANT: This is the last raffle I will be doing for a while, so this is your last chance to win. I have to hold off on these for a while until I can get caught up on things. Winner will be announced tomorrow.
So here is how this is going to work. You advertise one or more of the following items below for me.
For each one you advertise I will put your name in the raffle pot. At the end of this month, I will draw a number randomly.
The person who's number I draw will be given a 20 art feature and a mini interview! Now, I have over 2100 watchers, so I like to think that's a good chance of views for you. Also if you have a project, commissions, and/or a contest that you need featured, these items will be featured then as well.
Oh, and you'll get a free single character, no background chibi - This Raffle

Your name can end up in the pot a total of TWO times.

Please be sure that you advertise these items where people can see them (ie: your profile, a new journal entry, a new news article, a new poll, etc)!

Also, if you have any questions feel free to ask, and good luck!

--Venus

01.
02.
03.
04.
05.
06.
07.
08.
09.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.

Happy Easter everyone! Thank you to all those who left me lovely Easter wishes on my last journal and well wishes for my travels. My husband and I arrived home today after an absolutely lovely weekend at the beach. I was sick for part of last week along with my husband, and I'm beginning to think it was just an awful allergy spell as it only lasted about 24 hours.

Thursday, I was still feeling a little sickly, but I ended up driving out of town to see my mother who needed to get out of the house to get her mind off some things that have been going on lately. I don't get to see her often since she lives about an hour away, but I try to head over to see her when I can.

We visited with my grandma at the rest home for a little bit. She can speak clearly now, but unless you ask her a direct question she can't carry on a conversation with you outside of smiling and stating old quotes like "It's just another day" or "another day older and deeper in debt." For those who don't know, my grandmother is in her late 80s and suffered from a debilitating stroke last year a few months after my grandfather died. He was 92. My mother tried keeping her out of the rest home for as long as possible, but my mother is in her late 60s and has her own set of health problems and hasn't been able to properly care for her. Grandma also refused to move in with my parents. After the stroke it just became nearly impossible and the doctor had her set up at the rest home. Mom visits almost daily, though and spends time with her. All of her grandchildren stop in to visit regularly as well. We want to make sure she knows she's loved and not forgotten. We even keep a diary next to her bed and everyone who visits writes a little entry about what they did with grandma while there. She may not always remember, but with that little booklet it feels like we're helping her hold on to memories for as long as possible.

After visiting with Grandma for a while, we let her go back to sleep and I took my mom out to the movies to see "Oz the Great and Powerful" which both of us adored. "The Wizard of Oz" has always been a childhood favorite of mine, and I love just about everything to do with it. Still thinking about doing a Sanguem Deus series of pictures based of the stories at some point if I find the time.

The rest of my day with mom consisted of shopping and going out to eat and was overall a very pleasant day. I'm just glad I was able to get her out of the house and in a more cheerful environment for a bit.

Friday, my husband, his sister, and I packed our bags and drove a few hours out to his mother's house at the beach to spend the weekend. We had dinner and went to the movies so they could see Oz that Friday night and crashed as soon as we got home since it was late.

Thursday, we woke up early and went to the Flea Mall for a while. We found some good deals on video games. We purchased original PlayStation I copies of "Vagrant Story" and "Xenogears" for about $50.

After that we drove over to the Aquarium and spent a good long time in there. My husband took tons of photos and caught some beautiful shots. I've been nudging him to post them to deviantART when he gets a chance, so definitely follow :devlordpenguiman: if you want to see some pictures from our trips.

When we left the Aquarium we visited Fort Macon and got to see a cannon firing demonstration which was amusing. They used a basketball instead of a real cannon ball just to ensure no one would get hurt. My husband got a lot of cool pictures from there too.

The last thing we did for the day is visit a few shops at the beach, watched the ocean, and ate at an AWESOME seafood restaurant right on the beach front where we could watch the sunset. We went home and crashed once again after such a full day.

Today we went to a lovely Easter Sunday service at my mother-in-law's church, and then we came home, packed up, had lunch, and made the long drive back home. We also stopped at my parents for a quick visit and picked up our dog whom they were babysitting while we were gone.

I must say, though, as much fun as we had I am SO glad to be back home.

I hope you guys have had a good holiday? Feel free to share with me.

Many apologies to those who have been waiting to hear from me while I have been gone. I've sent notes out to everyone. Let me know if you have any questions, and you can check on your status here: [link]

I work on commissions in the order listed. When I send a commission WiP off for an approval I work on the next one in line until I hear from the person above them.

If you don't want to see work in progress shots of your commission and just want me to draw it up for you, please let me know! It takes me quite a bit longer to finish them when I have to send off work in progress shots, but you do get a chance to confirm to the fullest that it looks exactly as you want it to. On the other hand, I can have it finished in about a day or two once I reach you on the list if you choose to not see work in progress shots. Keep in mind it's harder for me to make changes once a piece is finished, though.

If you're waiting, definitely let me know! So far everyone on the list is set up to see WiPs unless I'm informed otherwise.

Thanks in advance!

Thank you so much everyone for all the well wishes on my last journal. I just want to give you another heads up that I am going to be away for the next several days. I'm not sure how much internet access I will have while I'm out of town, but I should be back by Monday.

Thank you to everyone once again for being patient and supportive.

HAPPY EARLY EASTER!

--Venus

Hey guys,

Just giving you a heads up that I am not feeling the best in the world today. My husband (~lordpenguinman) is under the weather as well. Hopefully this is only a one day thing. I'll still be working on commissions and may get some more prize art finished today, but just in case it's not completed this is why. For those waiting on commissions, you can check the status of your commission at the bottom of the following journal: [link]

If anyone has any questions, feel free to ask and I'll answer as quickly as possible.

Thanks for understanding and being patient.

--Venus